Getting to Know Our Summer Camp Staff – Part I

Teachers and students said “goodbye” to each other today and “hello” to Summer! Now that Summer is officially in full swing at Drama Learning Center, we wanted to introduce you to some of our summer camp staff. In this first installment, we’ll introduce you to a handful of the faces you’ll encounter at our summer drama camps.

Lauren Alberg

What’s your favorite thing about summer?I love having all my friends home from college so we can hang out and catch up!What camp are you most excited about and why?Cosplay Creations because I cosplay with my friends, and I’m excited to help other people with the skills I’ve learned over the years.What’s your favorite DLC or onstage memory?My favorite onstage memory was opening night of my first TYA [DLC’s professional training program] show– the moment before I went onstage.What’s your weirdest special skill or secret talent?I’m very good at binge-watching TV shows. I can finish entire series in just a few days.

Carrie Loughry

What’s your favorite thing about summer?Pool time, sleeping in, and of course, DLC camp!What camp are you most excited about and why?Pop Stars Sing! It’s so much fun to just sing and dance for the whole week.What’s your favorite DLC memory?Glee Camp several years ago was one of my favorite camps. Kids were so awesome and the staff was a great team! [Editor’s Note: as a part of the team for that Glee camp, I would concur. That was a memorable week of summer camp!]What’s a secret talent no one knows about?It’s a secret!

Andrew Lyon

What’s your favorite thing about summer?Spending time with friends and family.What camp are you the most excited about and why?All of them? I’m [also] very excited for [TYA Summer Musical Theatre Intensive’s production] Junie B. Jones.What was your favorite DLC memory?The Addams Family with TYA Junior Company. It was the breakthrough for my love of theatre.What’s the weirdest special skill on your résumé OR secret talent?I do lots of impressions and voices, and I sketch and draw in my spare time.

Samantha MarinoWhat’s your favorite thing about summer?The weather, fun, sun, the beach, relaxing, and doing what I like to do.What camp are you the most excited about and why?Best of Broadway because I LOVE Broadway and talking/singing about it.What’s your favorite onstage memory?I have two! Playing multiple roles in Grease and directing one of my favorites: The Grunch.

Dustin Merrell

What’s your favorite thing about summer?Evenings and weekends at home, air conditioning, cookouts, and camp (duh!).What camp are you most excited about and why?Legally Blonde — because it’s going to be so much fun! I’m looking forward to being at Howard High School again.What’s your favorite DLC or camp memory?I have two! 1. The day we opened our new voice studio! 2. When my campers dressed up as me for spirit week.What’s the weirdest special skill on your résumé or secret talent?

AJ WhittenbergerWhat’s your favorite thing about summer?The beach and the warm weather (boring, I know)!What camp are you most excited about and why?Honestly, all of them.What’s your favorite DLC or onstage memory?I have a few! Johnny Guitar (2006), High School Musical (2007), and Footloose (2009).What’s a secret talent no one knows about?[Editor’s Note: Mr. AJ left this one blank, so we’ll have to share a not-so-secret talent with you all– he’s an awesome dancer!]

Amy WilliamsonWhat’s your favorite thing about summer?Spending time with friends and family, going on adventures, and swimming.What camp are you most excited about and why?I’m most excited for Les Mis because it was my last show with TYA, and it holds a special place in my heart.What’s your favorite camp or DLC or onstage memory?Some of my favorite DLC memories came from participating in DLC summer camps as a student. One of the most memorable being Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2010.What’s the weirdest special skill on your résumé or secret talent no one knows about?I just rescued a whole bunch of tadples from my pool when I was opening it up for the season, so let’s go with “Tadpole Rescue Specialist.”

We hope you enjoyed learning about some of our summer teaching artists as much as we did. There are still a few spots in our three camps that begin next week: Broadway Babies – PJ Masks, Trolls Takeover, and Musical Theatre Masterclass. It’s not too late to join in on the summer fun. We can’t wait to see you this summer for what promises to be DLC’s best summer ever!

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“You can’t tell from this distance but many of the kids, even though they’d never met before, were crying as they took their final bows. In 4 short weeks, you created a family.”– Andrea D.“I can’t say enough how blown away I was by the incredible talent. It’s been a great experience for my daughter. Thank you! She will miss the cast for sure!”– Margaret O.“Even though my daughter was one of the youngest she said she always felt included by the older kids who looked out for them. This was a hugely ambitious project and it ended up being amazing! Thank you for taking this on and making such a caring environment for all the kids! This is why I love theatre, and now my daughter does too!”– Alexia C.“This was an awesome experience!! The older kids were great with my daughter who was one of the youngest in the cast. I truly appreciate the supportive and enriching environment that DLC created for this show.”– Beth H.“Not only was the show impressive, the experience was wonderful. My daughter and friends sobbed after the last performance. They’ve never been as close as a cast and they are already committed to return next summer.”– Andrea D.